History | |
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United States | |
Name: | USS Hollandia |
Builder: | Kaiser Shipyards |
Launched: | 28 April 1944 |
Commissioned: | 1 June 1944 |
Decommissioned: | 17 January 1947 |
Struck: | 1 April 1960 |
Fate: | Sold for scrap on 31 December 1960 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Casablanca-class escort carrier |
Displacement: | 7,800 tons (standard), 10,400 tons (full load) |
Length: | 512 ft 3 in (156.13 m) overall |
Beam: | 65 ft 2 in (19.86 m), 108 ft 1 in (32.94 m) maximum width |
Draft: | 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m) |
Propulsion: |
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Speed: | 19 knots (35 km/h) |
Range: | 10,240 nmi (18,960 km) @ 15 kn (28 km/h) |
Complement: |
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Armament: | 1 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal dual purpose gun, 16 × Bofors 40 mm guns (8×2), 20 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons (20×1) |
Aircraft carried: | 28 |
Service record | |
Part of: | United States Pacific Fleet (1944-1946) |
Operations: | Battle of Okinawa, Operation Magic Carpet |
Awards: | 2 Battle stars |
USS Hollandia (CVE-97), formerly AVG-97 and ACV-97, was a Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy.
Hollandia was launched under Maritime Commission contract as Astrolabe Bay (CVE-97) by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Washington on 28 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. William H. Wheat; renamed Hollandia on 30 May 1944; and commissioned on 1 June 1944, Captain Charles L. Lee in command.
Following training off the West Coast, Hollandia sailed 10 July 1944 from San Diego for a shakedown cruise to Espiritu Santo. She also transported replacement aircraft on this cruise, and on the return voyage stopped at Manus Island and Guadalcanal, arriving Port Hueneme, California on 27 August. During the next few months the escort carrier made similar cruises between the United States and the Navy's bases in the far Pacific, Manus, Ulithi, and Guam, bringing vitally-needed supplies and passengers.
Hollandia was anchored at Ulithi on 1 April 1945 when the Navy's massive amphibious assault of Okinawa began. She got underway next day and operated off the Okinawan coast, sending fighters to support the advancing troops. The ship then returned to San Diego, arriving on 1 May 1945. Following a cargo and passenger voyage to Pearl Harbor and return, Hollandia departed on 7 June to take part in the climactic events of the Pacific war. Loading replacement aircraft at Pearl Harbor, the ship sailed on 18 June to operate with 3rd Fleet's logistic supply unit, and for the final 2 months of the war, she brought valuable replacements to the carriers of the fast task forces pounding Japan.